By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Just when the time seemed right to count out the Rochester Americans, again, they showed as a group what they’re all about.
Facing elimination and going back on the road for Game 5 of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference finals, the Amerks played with desperation and resolve for 60 minutes and left the Giant Center with a 4-1 victory over the Hershey Bears on Wednesday night.
Lukas Rousek scored two goals, Jiri Kulich and Michael Mersch each scored once and goalie Malcolm Subban was terrific in stopping 32 shots as the Amerks narrowed the gap in the best-of-seven series to 3-2.
“That was a big-time win,” center Mason Jobst said. “On to the next.”
Indeed, there will be a next. In winning for the second time in the three games played in Hershey so far, the Amerks extended their season for at least two more days and planted at least to some degree a seed of doubt in the minds of the opposition.
“We were excited to try to make this bus ride meaningful for us and make them have to come back up to play us,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said.
The gutsy performance really shouldn’t have been a surprise, even after the painful late-game collapse in Game 4 on Monday. The Amerks were 10 minutes away from evening the series 2-2 in the Memorial Day game, then allowed four goals, lost 4-2 and found themselves on the brink of elimination.
But just as they have done since losing the first two games of the best-of-five opening round series against the Syracuse Crunch, the Amerks simply focused on winning one game.
“I know you’re probably tired of hearing us say it, but our mentality is just one game at a time,” Jobst said. “We’re fighting for each other and we don’t want this to end.”
They made sure Wednesday wasn’t the last time this group would ever play together. That stare-down with reality was part of the pre-game mental preparation, too.
“You’re playing for each other,” Appert said. “These are the best times of your life, when your back’s against the wall, people think you’re done, most people don’t have belief left in you, but you do, and you’re playing with a group of guys you love.
“There will be very few moments in your life, with the exception of your wedding and your kids being born, that are better than moments like this, when you’re in adverse situations with a group of guys that you love play for.”
Subban provided an early boost of confidence for the Amerks by weathering an early blitz by the Bears.
“They were all over us in the first five,” Jobst said. “If it wasn’t for him, it would have been a different look early.”
At the other end of the ice, Bears goalie Hunter Shepard wasn’t so good. Kulich surprised him with the release of a wrist shot from the left of the slot and the puck zipped past Shepard on the short side.
Despite being a rather harmless one-on-two rush, the Amerks led 1-0 as Kulich scored his team-leading seventh goal, and first of the series.
The scored didn’t change until Rousek fired home a Jobst pass 1:22 into the third period. Jobst picked the pocket of defenseman Dylan McIlrath from behind along the left-wing boards in the Hershey zone, then spun away from a defender before passing across the deep slot. Rousek, from a sharp angle, fired home his fourth goal – on just his 10th shot on goal of the postseason.
“An amazing play, just a beautiful pass,” Rousek said of the play by Jobst.
The Bears retaliated with a power play goal at 3:44. Logan Day’s shot from the center point was tipped in by Aliaksei Protas.
The power play came with Linus Weissbach in the penalty box for roughing. He was angry that no penalty was called when McIlrath ran over Isak Rosen about 15 seconds earlier. The force of the hit – which appeared to be right forearm or elbow to head – sent Rosen’s helmet twirling over the glass and into the stands.
Rosen got right back up and didn’t miss a shift.
The Amerks refused to allow Hershey to gain momentum from the power-play goal, however, maintaining the 2-1 lead until Mersch connected on a power play with 6:49 remaining.
Again, it wasn’t a great goal for Shepard to give up. Mersch was skating through the left circle and fired a perfect shot that caught Shepard crouching and too far off the near post.
Rousek then hit an empty net with 1:22 left to seal it. It was his second empty-netter of the playoffs after scoring three in the regular season.
Lineup notes
Defenseman Ethan Prow returned and played his usual extensive minutes. He missed Game 4 with an unspecified injury. Defenseman Austin Strand also played, his first playoff game and first game since April 5, as Appert opted to use seven defensemen and 11 forwards.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Austin Strand,” Appert said. “That guy has worked hard every day, unreal attitude. We needed him tonight and he stepped up.”
Defenseman Mitch Eliot and center Kohen Olischefski came out of the lineup.
Sometimes the games are simply war of the wills…which squad really wants it more. On Monday it was Hershey. On Wednesday night it was the Amerks, from beginning to end. The game started out like the Bears were going to run the Amerks right out of the building, but Subban was a wall. Amerks regained their composure, scored an unexpected goal and never looked back.
In the 3rd period, a period that has haunted the Amerks all season long, they didn’t go into a defensive ball but rather kept forcing the play.
It paid off. Now we get June hockey in Rochester! Home ice has not been very friendly this series, with the road team winning 4 of 5. Lets hope that trend stops Friday, at least for one more night. A big win for the Amerks on Friday will set up a real doozie Monday in Hershey. It will take another monumental effort to come away with the ‘W’, but this team has demonstrated that they are up for the challenge.
Can’t wait!